Midi (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a way of making different hardware communicate with each other, and if combined with a sequencer, it's possible to make them co-operate too. For example you may have a drum machine, and a midi-keyboard connected together via a computer sequencer which controls it all. And then the drum machine will do what its told to do by the sequencer, as well as the midi keyboard will too.

Because midi is based on the use of different kind of hardware, it's also very often based on pre defined instruments. The sound quality you can achieve often reflects the quality of your hardware - or in other words - the amount of money you spend on your hardware! - That's why Midi might become very expensive, and also very limited to the hardware you might have. It would be difficult to make hard core techno, or hard rock music if you are just having a piano, and a guitar to use.

Back in the 80s a midi tune could sound like one thing on one computer, then if you copied the tune to another one, it could sound completely different. This is because midi is made of signals which says what instrument is to be played, and what volume (velocity) is to be used. So if a piccolo flute is at number 38 on one computer, but at number 29 at another one it would certainly sound weird. You might wind up with the tuba instead of the piccolo flute.

In 1991 all the leading companies in the computer world, met and set a standard for what *all* future midi sound card should support. The result was something called "General Midi" (GM). This was 128 pre defined instruments and a drum set which made communication between different midi devices easier. These instruments was "general" instruments such as pianos, trumpets, guitars and so on, but the problem with these instruments is that they aren't good for anything else than symphonies, ballads, waltz, swing and so on. Techno tunes and similar synth sounding music styles aren't exactly meant to be made with it.�

Midi has in some degree changed during the last years. You are now often entitled to use your own samples to change the pre defined hardware samples, and on some sound cards, such as the Creative AWE 64, you might even change the pre defined samples (not permanently though!). This means that you get the instruments you want in your productions, and it's easier to make other music styles than the ones which general midi is meant for. This is what professional musicians do.

Well first of all, you need a computer featuring a descent sound card, and a sequencer such as Cakewalk, Musicator or Cubase. I would recommend an external midi-in-keyboard, in case you want record a riff from it. It's difficult to make songs without, but you can use your computer's keyboard, but it doesn't separate velocities, so your volume changes aren't recorded along with the notes.

Then comes the difficult part. This is not in any way a course in midi composing, so it's up to you to learn how to use your sequencer. I recommend you to listen to different songs, and see how it's made, and then try making your own Midis. - If you're out of musical ideas, try sequencing a song you've heard on the radio recently, but be aware of copyrights if you do so.

The Midi Zentral is a place where you can find hundreds of Midis.